Slow economy doesn’t faze developers of new Bridgeport-area luxury hotel
The Grand Hotel manager says in this bad economy it’s time to move forward and not retreat
Jaime Valdez / The Times
The Grand Hotel, a new luxury hotel located near Bridgeport Village, held its grand opening Sept. 14.
Even 41 years ago, long before the bustling Bridgeport Village shopping center existed, the company that operates the brand-new Grand Hotel saw potential in that land.
VIPS Industries, the family-run Salem company that opened up its second hotel on the border of Tualatin and Tigard last month, started a restaurant in 1968 on the same land that the new luxury hotel sits. That restaurant eventually closed, but the company never gave up their ownership stake of the land.
Then a few years ago, VIPS officials had an idea — why not build a contemporary, upscale hotel next to the growing Bridgeport area?
In late August that idea was realized, when The Grand Hotel at Bridgeport opened its doors.
“The company saw the opportunity even back in the late 60s for this area,” said Grand Hotel General Manager Josh Sanders.
The new hotel boasts 124 rooms and suites, as well as, traditional up-scale hotel luxuries, including complimentary breakfast, meeting rooms, a pool and its own parking garage.
What sets The Grand Hotel at Bridgeport, as well as the Phoenix Grand Hotel in Salem, apart from their competition, said Sanders, is the uniqueness that is put into design and decoration. Great care was made when creating the hotel, from choosing the earth-toned color scheme to the types of soap in each bathroom. Unlike larger hotel chains, he said, the small company prides itself on its individuality.
“They take great pride in cookie-cutter products,” Sanders said of those chains. “And that’s the opposite of what we are.”
On weekdays, the hotel functions as a place where traveling executives can stay while in town on business, and on weekends, it sees many visitors who came to take advantage of the myriad shopping opportunities in the area, Sanders said.
The Grand Hotel is promoting itself as being an “earth-friendly” business. Many steps are being taken to make the hotel more sustainable, Sanders said: Each room has a recycling container. Cleaning products are purchased based on how little materials are used in the containers. The hotel is entirely lit by energy-saving fluorescent bulbs.
But there is always more to do to be more green, Sanders said, and the hotel will be looking into other ways to improve.
While it may be a tricky time in the economy to build a new business, Sanders said, the company is focused on strengthening itself.
“Rather than retreat, it’s a time to move forward,” he said.
Although the hotel is just getting going, local interest is high, Sanders said. Out of 450 people invited to the Sept. 14 grand opening celebration, 400 people showed up. So far, so good, he said.